A dental emergency is any situation that requires prompt treatment to resolve severe pain, bleeding or trauma to your teeth or gums. Dental emergencies can happen at any time, so being familiar with what qualifies as a dental emergency and how to treat them is important. Listed below are some common dental emergencies that require immediate attention.

Knocked-out Tooth

If a tooth is knocked out, handle it gently to avoid damaging any surrounding tissue or blood vessels. Rinse off the root of the tooth with water to remove any debris, and don’t scrub the tooth clean. Instead, place it back in the socket if possible and hold it in place until you reach the dentist’s office. If you can’t get the tooth to stay in place, place the tooth in a small container filled with milk or water to keep it moist until you can visit a dentist.

Object Caught Between Teeth

If an object is stuck between two teeth, attempt to remove the object with dental floss if possible. If the object is stuck too tightly and cannot be removed, contact our office to schedule an appointment for an emergency visit. Never use a sharp instrument to try to remove the object, as this can damage the teeth or gums. Do not attempt to remove objects that are caught between the teeth with any foreign objects, such as fingernails, pins, pencils, or other hard items. These include popcorn kernels, broken crowns, bones, and chicken or other poultry bones. We are able to make recommendations for safe removal if needed. For children, it’s important to remove any sharp or pointed objects from their reach to avoid accidental swallowing.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

For any injury to the mouth, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If the bleeding persists for 15 minutes, go to the emergency room. Until you see your dentist, avoid eating and talking to keep the damaged area as clean as possible. After the procedure, apply gauze to the area to help control bleeding and protect your gums.

Dental Trauma

If you’ve experienced trauma to the head or face, it’s important to go to the emergency room first to make sure that there aren’t any life-threatening injuries that need to be dealt with. After you’ve been cleared for release, you can call your dentist to schedule an appointment right away. Because of the risk of further injury to the mouth or face, it’s best to have the mouth examined and treated as soon as possible.

To find out more about the dental services we offer at College Family Dentistry, call (225) 926-4640 or schedule a consultation online. You can also visit our dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, at 4616 Concord Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808.